Tax bills mailed in Somerset

SOMERSET — The long anticipated property tax bills that selectmen have been talking about for several months were mailed to residents and businesses last Friday.

George Austin

SOMERSET — The long anticipated property tax bills that selectmen have been talking about for several months were mailed to residents and businesses last Friday.

The bills ask for payments for two quarters, instead of one, because tax bills did not go out in February as they usually do. Payments on the tax bills are due May 19. Tax Collector Lisa Viana said the bills have one coupon instead of two to make the payment easily understandable for property owners.

"We're trying to make it as user friendly as possible," Ms. Viana said.

The selectmen approved of a shift in the tax burden between commercial and residential properties that will have the average residential property owner paying an increase of $252 for the year and the average commercial property owner paying a bill that will be about $600 less than last year. The average residential property is valued at $235,561 and the average commercial property is valued at $245,000. But the increase or decrease in the tax bill for the year could be more or less than the averages, based on what the value of the property is. During the past year, Selectmen Chairman Donald Setters, Jr. said the tax increase could be as much as $600 to $700 for the average residential property. But the $3 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Fund that was awarded to the town because of the effort of state Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset) helped to bring that increase down.

Ms. Viana said 70 percent of the payments will come from bank escrow accounts. She said if people do not have the money to pay the entire bill, the tax collector will take partial payments, but said interest will be charged for whatever is owed after May 19.

The owner of the former Montaup Electric power plant site, who purchased the property last month, has not paid $408,000 in back taxes that were owed on the property. Last week's bill that was sent out will add another $64,379.30 in property taxes for the riverfront property that the old power plant is located on and $23,170.20 in taxes on the property across the street where the storage tanks are located. The owner of the property was also sent a new bill for $6,510.16 in taxes on personal property, which is like equipment to run a business, on the property.

Ms. Viana said the town should put a time limit on the owner of the property to pay the taxes. She said she could put a tax title on the property.